What is metacommunication?

Metacommunication is when you talk about how you're talking, not just what you're saying.

Imagine you and your friend are playing a game with blocks. You say, "I’m going to build a castle." That's regular communication. But then you add, "I’m going to build it really fast," or "I want to do it quietly so we don’t wake up the baby." That’s metacommunication, you're telling everyone how you’re going to communicate.

Think of metacommunication like a special rule in a game. If you say, "We’re going to whisper from now on," that changes how the whole game works. It’s like saying, “Now we’re playing murmur mode.”

Or if you shout, "I’m going to talk really loud now!", that tells everyone else to listen harder or maybe even join in.

When you use metacommunication, it helps people know what to expect. Are we going to be quiet? Are we going to be fast? Are we going to laugh a lot? That makes the game, and life, easier to play! Metacommunication is when you talk about how you're talking, not just what you're saying.

Imagine you and your friend are playing a game with blocks. You say, "I’m going to build a castle." That's regular communication. But then you add, "I’m going to build it really fast," or "I want to do it quietly so we don’t wake up the baby." That’s metacommunication, you're telling everyone how you’re going to communicate.